Salvation

Take my hand

"What rules?" Lauren asked in disbelief. She was sure she was be able to kill this man with her bare hands with the blink of an eye.

"Well, since I am gentleman I will let you decide about the wedding but the honeymoon and the interview are my concerns, you just have to show up and that's all." He put on again that arrogant smile. She wish she could wipe it of his face.

Lauren was afraid that If she stays she will probably spend the rest of her life in jail.

"And one more thing,"This man was really testing her patience.Lauren turned around before she opened the door.

"I will pick you up tomorrow at 12 p.m. I need your help to decorate our room." Now he stood up and looked at her. She felt her cheeks blushing and all of her rage disappeared. He approached her slowly stopping just few inches away. Lauren tried to open he door but he stopped her by putting his hand on hers and closing back the door.

"You will be my wife, in a week If I haven't told you jet. I don't like when u ran away from me like that all the time."He was caressing her cheek now, Lauren closed her eyes trying to calm the storm that was going wild in her and was threatening to escape outside. "Is there a place that you would like to go on a vacation?"

"Um, there is,"she didn't know how she managed to say even a word."I always loved wintering."

He smiled softly,"Okay, I will arrange everything else than."

His hand left her cheek leaving hot trace to take out little red box from the pocket of his pants. When he opened it, she saw beautiful engagement ring."I bought it yesterday, If you don't like it we can go and pick another one."

Speechless, Lauren took the ring out of the box. It was very beautiful, with the pink diamond in the center. She knew these ones are pricey."This is too much, you should have bought something less expensive."she said still admiring the ring.

He gently took the ring from her and raised her other hand and placed it on her ring finger.

"I tried to find something close as beautiful as you are." He said seriously.

"What a cliché" Lauren rolled her eyes trying to cover how stunned and nervous she is and opened the door because she didn't want them to go so well. Lauren heard his laugh behind her back."Where are you going?"she asked him not stopping to look at him but she knew he was one step behind her.

"I am taking you to the lunch."

***

At the exit from the building they met few people in the suits, Alessio introduced her to them as his fiance.

"You surely hit the jackpot, Alessio." one of the man smiled at Lauren while patting Alessio on the shoulder.

"I surely did."Alessio was answering to man in the suit but his eyes were roaming across Lauren's face. She couldn't puzzle out the look in his eyes but she felt heat spreading through her entire body.

"So, when is the wedding?" another man asked looking at Lauren.

"Our plan is next week." Alessio hugged Lauren around the waist drawing her closer. She could feel the heat of his body. "We couldn't wait anymore." He looked down again at her and smiled. Someone would think it's love.

"Yes" Lauren smiled too "We have to go now. It was a pleasure meeting you gentleman."

They greeted them and headed to restaurant.

"Restaurant is about 5 minutes walk from here, If you don't mind the traffic jam we can go by car too." It was weird walking next to him as his future wife. This man is still a stranger to her and she hasn't forget what kind of relation they actually have and it's definitely not love, but she will let it go for today and she was really hungry.

" We can walk, I don't mind it." Lauren sad mowing away from him.

The restaurant wasn't quite the place Lauren expected him to take her on a lunch. It was small and cozy and not luxury at all and she actually preferes places like this where she doesn't have to meet stiff guests and take their judging looks If she decides to not wear something fancy that day.

"You like it here?"Alessio asked her after he noticed she was looking around the place.

"Yes, it's so nice here. Food is probably also nice." Lauren said while taking a seat on the terrace. Warm breeze was caressing her hair and skin, It was so relaxing here that she almost forgot with who she came.

"The place, the food and the view,"with the last word he looked at her and said,"Amazing."

She blushed under his hot gaze and her heart trembled.

"What do you recommend?" Lauren tried to pay attention on something else besides this man in front of her.

"Anything you can find on that menu, I have tried all of the dishes."

"I see you are a regular customer here and honestly I wasn't expecting a place like this to be one of your favorites."

"It is my favorite," He said with a smile" I hope you like it too because I come here almost everyday."

And bum, he reminded her again, his rules, he is the boss and she has to obey.

"I have my places to go too, I am not supposed to follow you around like a good puppy." Lauren was angry at herself because she lets him go this far and she lets him go that way."And you know what," she said getting up and taking her bag,"I prefer to have my lunch all by myself rather than with you."

Not waiting for his response she turned around and went to the exit and there she bumped into Alex. Instantly when Lauren saw his face she was paralyzed with fear. He was looking above her head and she knew where his glance was directed to. Lauren tried to go pass him but he grabbed her hand,"Well aren't you going to introduce me with your new friend?"

"I am not her new friend, I am her fiance and soon to be husband." Oh my god, no. Alessio's cold voice alarmed for some s**t coming up. Lauren used that moment to yank her hand from Alex's grip and she took Alessio's hand and said, "Let's go." While dragging him practically to the exit she sighed with relief. Alessio was following her step without saying a word and she didn't want to slow down in case Alex decides to follow them. If Alessio finds out about his threats he might just give up on that contract and as much she hates the deal they have she also needs him to help her to put her family business again on track.

When they arrived in front of his building she lets go of his hand.

"I am going home now, I will see you tomorrow."

"Not so fast."He turned her around to look at him." I will drive you home."

"But my car."

"I will get someone to take it back to your address." Lauren could see he was angry and fed up with her attitude so she obeyed the boss.

Alessio was quite through the entire ride looking constantly in rearview mirror. She didn't want him to ask her any questions so she remained in silence too. When they arrived she jumped out of the car thanking him and headed to her house and of course he followed her. When she unlocked and opened her front door Alessio followed her in the house. She went to the kitchen and dropped her bag and keys on the kitchen island. He stopped at the other side of the kitchen looking at her with the curiosity in his eyes with hands in pockets and she already knew what is he going to ask her.

"What was that" Oh there he is, but she decided to play on a dumb card.

"What was what, Alessio?" Lauren acted like she was confused with his question but she was not and she knew exactly what he meant by that.

"Who is that man to you, what is your relation with him?"

"What man?" acting dumb again, well It wasn't that hard.

"Lauren?" her name now sounded like a warning.

Lauren snapped with her fingers like she remembers this second who he was talking about,"Oh yes, you mean the man from the restaurant?" When he raised his brows slightly she knew he was loosing his patience."Well, he was working for my dad before he started his own business."

"And?" He obviously didn't believe but Lauren was not planing on telling him who he actually is.

"There is no 'and', you can check that if you want." She somehow knew that he is going to do that, but she didn't care because that was the truth.He sighed pulling his hands out of pockets.

"Look, If you have any kind of problems with that guy, you can tell me that." He said in less harsh tone.

"I know how to care for myself, I'm big girl."Lauren turned her back to him,"Do you want coffee?"

"I would rather eat something, you dragged me out of the restaurant, remember? You owe me a lunch"

"Okay, okay" she raised her hands a a sign of surrender, "I am going to order us a pizza, are you fine with that?"

"That sounds good to me." He went to the fridge and pull out two beers."We can wait for the food by the pool If you don't mind"

"I have two deck chairs so why not and now excuse me I have to go to change my clothes."

"Sure, I was thinking about swimming too." Alessio winked to her and headed towards the pool

That arrogant asshole, he is provoking her again. Well she is going to put on that stupid bikini.

***

The pool wasn't too big or too small, the depth was perfect too as well as the water temperature. It was nice to swim carefree even for a moment. Alessio has been working too much in the past couple of months, vacation would do wonders for him and talking about the wonders, when he saw her walking towards the pool in her miniature bikini he couldn't take his eyes of her. Red color goes so well with her tanned complexion. She was stunning. Alessio leaned his back on the edge of the pool.

"Are you coming in?"

"No, I washed my hair this morning and the food will be here soon." She sad taking her suntan cream.

"I will join you then, I need to dry myself."

Alessio saw her face blushing as he approached to her."It is really nice here." Even though he likes to provoke her he didn't want her to feel her uncomfortable around him so relaxed chatter was the best medicine for her discomfort.

"I bought it three years ago. The pool made me buy it, but I like the house too. It's perfect for me." She said abstractedly.

"Are you going to sell it after the wedding?"

She glared at him.

"Of course I will not, I love this house, it's my home. Or it's one of your demands? If it is, I don't give a f**k about it." She stood up with anger erupting from her entire body. The pizza man came at the right moment. She was back in few minutes with pizzas. After they finished their lunch Alessio left her house, he didn't even get goodbye from her but that wasn't what bothered him. It was him, f*****g Alex Davis.

When he entered his car Alessio called two of his bodyguards and asked them to come to watch over Lauren's house without her noticing them. He can't let that killer get near her.Not yet.